Monthly Archives: July 2013

Are you someone who decently denies an offering for a cup of hot tea? And what about “green tea”?

If you still answer “No”, you are missing out one of the healthiest ingredients that provide immense health benefits. Being full of taste, warmth and energy, a cup or two everyday offers you lots of benefits. Here’s a list of some amazing benefits of green tea.

Reduces the Risk of Diabetes

Green tea helps the body use insulin properly and thus improves the blood glucose levels in people having type 2 diabetes. It has not been found to be associated with any serious side effects.

Lowers Risk of Heart Disease

Green tea contains polyphenols, which are believed to inhibit the absorption of cholesterol. In addition, green tea contains antioxidants, which can reduce the risk of fat deposition inside your arteries. Some experts suggest that daily consumption of about 5 to 6 cups of green tea can reduce blood pressure, and levels of total and bad cholesterol.

Helps in Weight Reduction

Green tea is thought to increase the body’s metabolism. Although green tea alone cannot help you to reduce body weight, it can surely assist in the process by reducing appetite and boosting metabolism.

May Help Prevent Cancer

Some studies report that consumption of green tea may prevent you from several types of cancers. A recent study revealed that, green tea contains a chemical “epigallocatechin gallate” that may reduce the risk of pancreatic and prostate cancer.

Green tea may not totally replace your medications if you are already suffering from any of the diseases mentioned above. But, no health enthusiast can afford to ignore the health benefits of green tea.

Try Green Tea Scrubassage : Our Signature Therapy

At Four Fountains De-stress Spa, we use green tea leaves as the primary ingredient to make our signature therapy – Green Tea & Spice Scrubassage—a combination of a scrub and a massage. The cream which includes green tea grains is massaged on to the body to enhance blood circulation and to exfoliate the dead skin cells. The anti-oxidants present in green-tea prevent potential skin damage from free radicals. We are proud to be the best spa in Mumbai to offer this one-of-a-kind Scrubassage which also helps in reducing aches and pains.

Consider allotting one hour of your busy schedule to drop in at Four Fountains De-stress Spa—to sip a cup of green tea and experience the benefits of Signature Green Tea Scrubassage. It is our passion to offer you the best massage in Mumbai.

Taking some time out for yourself from your hectic and eventful schedule can be a challenge at times. You may want to spend some peaceful time away from all the commotion and hassle to get back refreshed and re-energized. Given below are some tips that can help you to get over the strain.

1. Be a Kid Again At An Amusement Park

Who would not want to be a kid and live the stress-free childhood all over again? What other place can be as good as a theme park or an amusement park for a happy and joyful ride. A roller coaster ride can act as a startling and breathtaking experience to empty your head of all the worries and tensions. If you lack a complete day, then just step into a nearby park or garden to take in some fresh breeze and enjoy the serenity around you.

2. Try a Massage at a Day Spa

There’s nothing more de-stressing than a professional body massage. With soft and calming music being played in the surrounding, the peaceful ambience helps you relax at all levels. A spa massage gives you important health benefits such as pain relief, anxiety relief and better sleep.

3. Be a Shopaholic

If you are a woman, you will find this option the most exciting. Go for window shopping. Explore unseen malls, indulge in some roadside shopping and have a fun filled evening with your buddies or partners.

4. Catch Up on Some Comedy

Go for a laugh-out-loud movie with your girl/guy gang. Sharing some hearty laughter with your best friends will surely help you keep stress away.

5. Go for a Weekend Outing

If you are lucky enough to have a long weekend off from work, do not miss this opportunity to enjoy it with friends/family. Plan a trip to a picnic spot in close proximity. Getting away from the city’s hustle-bustle is something that might prove to be immensely tranquil and fun-filled.

6. Take a Walk by the Beach

Decide to spend an evening on a beach. You may choose to be alone with some soothing music or find someone for a company.

We have listed down some novel ways to relax. What do you usually do to de-stress?

Frustrations, enthusiasm, rage, anxiety all keep bouncing within us in various situations. And all these expressions and sentiments have a direct impact on our eating habits. Some people tend to overeat when happy while other do so when sad. Many times we do not eat to satisfy our hunger, but we turn to food for stress-relief.

Research suggests that people, who choose to eat food to release their stress, tend to make unhealthy food choices, which deteriorates their diet and causes obesity.

According to some scientists a stressful situation can trigger a drive to eat food. In such situation many people prefer to feast on high-calorie sugary and fatty food items. There is not enough research done yet to clearly understand the mechanism that links stress and food intake. However, the available evidence suggests that when we are under stress, there is an increase in the activity of hormone, known as “cortisol,” which further increases the consumption of glucose (sugar) by the brain. This may lead to intake of large amounts of sugary food during stressful situations.

Some experts believe that consumption of sugar and fat can produce similar effects as opiates in the brain which makes you feel happy and forget all the tensions. Therefore, for some people, food becomes an inexpensive way to achieve relief from stress. Thus, people end up eating large quantities of sugary and fatty food to get short term relief from discomfort.

Unfortunately eating cannot solve problems and give only temporary relief from stress. In fact, it makes you feel guilty about your bad eating habits. You must consider some healthy ways of de-stressing such as exercise, meditation, or other relaxation techniques. Massage therapy is another great way to overcome mental and physical stress. You may opt for an Aromatherapy Massage, which is known to improve mood and calm your mind.

Sacrificing your sleep for some urgent task once in a while is acceptable. But making it a routine would fetch you ill-health and unwanted stress. Not getting adequate sleep leaves you crabby and aggravated till the time your sleep regimen balances. People who work in shifts tend to face such issues because how much ever you sleep during day time, it cannot be equalized to the quality of night sleep. Setting an early to bed schedule is difficult but you can set some simple rules for yourself regarding how to sleep better.

Set Alarm to Remind It’s Time to Sleep

Every day set an alarm to alert you that you should go off to bed. This will help you remind yourself everyday that you need to complete your chores and get the lights off on time.

Gadgets Prohibited Area

Try and switch off all the electronic devices an hour before your sleep time. If an hour sounds difficult start with half an hour. Your phones, laptops, TV and all other fancy devices should be shut so that you can call for better sleep.

No Work Once Home

Make sure you leave your work and work moods in office. Reply to the emails and messages the next day when you head to your work place. Getting your office work at home should be avoided as much as possible. It would help you heighten your productivity as a fresh mind and body works better and faster compared to the one working all day and night long.

Exercise in the Morning

You can wake up early after a satisfactory sleep at night. This helps you get those extra hours in hand to use for your personal grooming and development. Practice some quick to do and easy exercises.

Some simple tips on how to sleep betteras those mentioned above can help you if you practice them regularly. So, are you calling for better sleep tonight?

Have you noticed that your productivity at work declines in the post lunch hours? You find it difficult to concentrate at work, and so decide to take a quick nap at your work station.

Just follow few tricks and overcome your low productivity at work in the post lunch hours.

Give a Healthy Start to Your Day

Having a good and filling breakfast is important. Research shows that people who have heavy breakfast are more active and attentive compared to those who avoid it. The low mood and tiredness can be avoided to a great extent by having a healthy and nutritious breakfast.

Avoid Junk Food

Junk food does nothing apart from increasing drowsiness. Watch everything you eat, making sure you avoid foodstuff like fries, pasta, etc. which increase your insulin level ultimately inducing sleep. Increase your intake of beans, green vegetables like cabbage which takes less time to digest compared to heavy food like pasta.

Avoid Going to Your Work Table Immediately After Lunch

A walk after lunch can really help you breathe in some fresh air and make you active. It also facilitates proper digestion and enhances your concentration and work speed as your mind is refreshed.

Get Proper Sleep at Night

If you do not let your body get enough sleep, no action might work to eliminate your lethargies. You need at least 6 to7 hours of sleep for your mind and body to function properly.

Avoid Having Too Much Coffee

You may think of having coffee to feel fresh but too much of coffee can turn out to be unhealthy. Instead drink water, though people rarely do so. This not only helps you to be active but keeps you away from the problems of dehydration.

Make your work place interesting by adding some inspirational quotes on the pin board that always release your stress while working. So, adapt these simple habits and be fresh at your workplace.

We all love surprises. But, when it comes to choosing a gift for a health conscious partner, you need to be very cautious. How will you please your health enthusiast? Here are some great healthy gift ideas that will surely make your partner happy.

Chocolates Always Work

Chocolate contains some phenolic compounds, which are thought to have several health benefits. Earlier, chocolate had a bad reputation of promoting weight gain. However, people have now started realizing the health benefits of chocolate that includes lowering cholesterol levels, preventing cognitive decline, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular problems.

Couple’s Day Out At a Spa

Enjoying a massage has several health benefits. Gift your partner a spa gift voucher. Even better, visit a day spa that offers couples massage or other therapies for relaxation, de-stressing and beauty. This can be all the more blissful when both you and your partner are working individuals. It can act like a perfect healthy and rejuvenating break from your boring and cramped schedule.

Be the Chef for the Day

Be the kitchen king and give your wife a break from her kitchen schedule. Make some of her favorite delicacies and enjoy them over a nicely decorated dining table with dimly lit and enchanting ambiance. She might love your efforts and feel extremely special and pleased. You can take extra efforts to include some fresh fruits and vegetables as these are loaded with essential nutrients. If your partner is a seafood lover, it’s going to be even better. Fish contains omega-3 fatty acids that are associated with improvement of mental health.

A Bottle of Wine

Wine has been portrayed as a “health drink” by some vineyard owners. Some studies reveal that wine consumption can lower cholesterol, increase human lifespan, protect against certain cancers, and improve mental health.

Gifts are just a gesture to show your love and affection for others. Sometimes, it’s not important to how much money you spend on gifts, even a small token of appreciation can speak volumes. It’s all about feelings and love! But remember to keep it healthy.

Looking for a last minute gift for your loved one? Buy a Spa Gift Voucher right now and schedule when you want it e-mailed.